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What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease typically affecting the lungs. As compared to other diseases that are caused by a single infectious agent, tuberculosis is considered as the second biggest killer, globally. This disease may also spread to various other parts of the body such as the spine and the brain. Tuberculosis causes are mainly related due to a type of bacteria named as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. You will have to get a skin or a blood test done to know if you are infected with Tuberculosis (TB). The common Tuberculosis symptoms include chills, night sweat, fever, loss of appetite, chest pain, weight loss, cough lasting for more than 3 weeks, coughing up blood, etc. In case you experience any of the mentioned symptoms, it is important that you see your doctor to get the diagnosis done and further tuberculosis treatment to initiate. In case you start getting chest pain, it is important that you seek immediate medical help right away.

Causes of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis causes are mainly said to be due to a bacteria that usually spreads from person to person via microscopic droplets that are released into the air. This can occur when a person who is untreated and in the active form of tuberculosis either sneezes, coughs, speaks, spits, sings or laughs.

Tuberculosis is contagious, but it is certainly not easy to catch. You're more likely to get infected with tuberculosis from a person you live with or work with rather than from a stranger. It is said that a person suffering from active type of TB and who've had taken an appropriate drug treatment for minimum two weeks, aren’t any longer contagious.

Types of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) may be classified in two types: active disease or latent infection. Lung disease is the most common form of active TB, however it may invade some other organs, so-called "extrapulmonary TB."

  • Active TB Disease

Active TB is an illness wherein the TB bacteria are multiplying rapidly and invading different parts of the body. Active Tuberculosis symptoms include chest pain, fever, weight loss, cough, phlegm, weakness, chills and sweating at night. Airborne transmission of infectious particles that are coughed in to the air are the main tuberculosis causes that will lead to spreading TB to others.

  • Miliary TB

Being a very rare type of tuberculosis that is active in nature, it happens when the bacteria of the tuberculosis find their way into the bloodstream. It is easier for the bacteria to spread fast all over the body in tiny nodules finally affecting multiple organs at once. Therefore, it is said that this type of tuberculosis (TB) can be rapidly fatal.

  • Latent TB Infection

There are chances that people who are affected with tuberculosis (TB) may have no symptoms of tuberculosis and that their chest x-ray may be normal. However, this type of Tuberculosis (TB) may create a reaction to the tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). But, this type of tuberculosis (TB) may also escalate to active diseases. The risk even increases higher due to other illnesses such as HIV or medications that compromises the immune system.

Treatment

What to do if you’re symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB) worsens?

In case you feel that you’re symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) are worsening, it is important that you seek immediate medical attention. Your doctor may ask you to get a blood test done to diagnose tuberculosis. In case you test positive for a skin test or blood test, you may have been exposed to a person suffering from tuberculosis. However, the test may not be able to tell you about the type of tuberculosis such as active or latent. A chest x-ray as well as physical exam would be asked to get done to find out if you have active tuberculosis and that you are likely to spread the disease to others.

What are the available Tuberculosis treatment options?

If a person gets the right medication and the same is administered properly, a majority of the tuberculosis cases may be cured. The precise type as well as length of the antibiotic treatment will depend on the person's overall health, age as well as the potential resistance to drugs. Also some other deciding factors for Tuberculosis treatment (TB) are whether the type of TB is latent or active, as well as the location of the infection such as the kidneys, lungs and brain. Those who have latent TB will usually require just one kind of TB antibiotics however people suffering from active TB (particularly MDR-TB) will more often need a prescription of multiple drugs.

It is necessary to take antibiotics for a relatively long time. Usually a 6 months course will be required for a proper tuberculosis treatment.

Tuberculosis medication may be toxic to the liver. Even though the side effects are uncommon, when they actually occur, they can be serious too. It is important that you report the potential side effects if any to a doctor, some of which are mentioned below:

  • Fever
  • Jaundice
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Dark urine
  • Loss of appetite

Even if you feel that the tuberculosis symptoms are gone completely, it is important for you to complete the said course of tuberculosis treatment. Any bacteria having survived the tuberculosis treatment can become resistant to the medication that has been suggested by your doctor and could further lead to developing MDR-TB in the future.

Your doctor may even recommend a therapy known as directly observed therapy (DOT)

Are there are any natural or homemade remedies for Tuberculosis?

Mentioned below are some of the natural or homemade remedies for tuberculosis treatment:

  • Vitamin D: People with supplementary treatment in patients having moderately advanced pulmonary tuberculous lesion will improve their health due to Vitamin D tablets. This essential vitamin may also be found in dietary sources like milk, eggs, fish, fortified milk, etc. It is also known as the sunshine vitamin since you can get it by simply basking in the early morning sunshine.
  • Bananas: Bananas are proven to be effective for tuberculosis treatment. It is rich in vitamins and organic compounds and therefore can rapidly reduce inflammation, high fever, coughing, and excessive mucus production.
  • Pineapples: Pineapples are excellent in breaking up mucus in the respiratory tracts thereby eliminating congestion of the lungs as well as nasal cavities. This can finally give your immune system a chance to get in and thereby initiating to combat the bacteria, therefor slice up a pineapple or at least have a pineapple juice
  • Garlic: Garlic’s sulfuric acid is helpful for the tuberculosis bacteria. It is advisable to steep the garlic in water and then drink it. You may also add fresh garlic to your meals. This will help in effectively clearing out your system of TB. You may simply use garlic for boosting your immune system and also for Tuberculosis prevention.
  • Mint: Mint is helpful in breaking down the mucus buildup in the respiratory tracts, thereby allowing for clear passage of air. Because of its immune-stimulating properties as well as antioxidants it directly affects any infection in the body.

When to see a doctor?

It is important to visit your doctor in case you have multiple symptoms that include sudden and unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats. These are some of the very common tuberculosis symptoms, leading from other medical problems. Your doctor can perform tests for determining the cause.

It is suggested that people having an increased risk of tuberculosis to be screened for latent TB infection. This recommendation includes:

  • People with HIV/AIDS
  • Healthcare working treating people with high risk of tuberculosis.
  • IV drug users
  • Those in contact with infected individuals

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